January 10, 2025 |
Moonchild Sanelly is back with her most dynamic project yet – Full Moon. Fusing Amapiano, Gqom, Afro-punk and electronic music, Moonchild’s unique “future, ghetto, funk” style continues to evolve, offering an energetic and unapologetic sound that has attracted fans from across the globe.
Originating from Port Elizabeth, her music is deeply rooted in her South African upbringing, blending vibrant beats with themes of empowerment, body liberation and personal growth. A standout feature of her work is her bilingualism, which effortlessly switches between Xhosa and English. This fusion adds cultural depth to her storytelling, making her music relatable to many whilst staying true to her roots.
On the new album, the opening track creates an atmosphere of intrepidity and power, setting the tone for the rest of what’s to come. The song’s playful title, Scrambled Eggs, reflects her aptitude for fusing languages and influences, just as she scrambles traditional African sounds with modern global genres like electronic, pop and Afro-futurism. From the first beat, the track pulses with infectious energy, an undeniable hook and a rhythmic flow that invites listeners into Moonchild’s world of self-expression. Her lyrics capture the essence of freedom and self-celebration, creating a musical bridge between cultures while enriching her storytelling. It’s a perfect introduction to the album’s themes of liberation and empowering individuality.
On Full Moon, Moonchild showcases her versatility like never before. The album blends high-octane tracks like Big Booty with more intimate moments like Mntanam, where she delivers an emotional Xhosa apology from her father, given to her as an adult about failed fatherhood. Produced by Johan Hugo and debuting via Transgressive Records, Full Moon pulses with club-ready beats while offering reflective tracks that touch on vulnerability and self-love, like I Love People.
Full Moon delivers Moonchild Sanelly’s boldest, most introspective work to date – it’s an album that’s not just a musical statement, but a celebration of herself. This is the sound of a true musical shapeshifter coming into her own. Here, we sat down with the up coming singer to discuss the new album, her first musical memories and her upcoming tour.
1. Who is Moonchild Sanelly?
Moonchild is a blue-headed bombshell who liberates through music and brings light to the world.
2. Sum up your sound in three words.
Future, ghetto, funk.
3. Your first musical memory?
Doing a talent show when I was a kid, modelling and singing Brenda Fassie, who is a South African icon. People that knew her personally say that she came back as me because she was free, she was black, she was me, she shook South Africa fully, she was rock and roll! I remember singing her songs at the talent show. My story is straight. I don’t know no ruler, who are you to tell me what to do? You’re not a part of this chat so fuck off, a lot of Brenda Fassie is in me, I think I was between the age of four to seven when I first performed her songs.
4. How would you describe the jump between your album Phases and your new album Full moon?
I think with Full Moon we were very intentional in making sure that the story connects with whoever or wherever the story takes me and that’s why we were intentional about the producer we used, we wanted Johan (producer) because he was going to be the one to connect, my artistry is so free and I just knew how easy it was going to be with him to create so many things that we’ve already done. We just wanted Full Moon to be in Unison and just something that connects outside of my voice and story.
5. Favourite musician on the scene right now?
Right now, I’m currently listening to Doechii, one day I’m going to work with her!
6. We’re counting down the days to your album release Full moon– can you give us an inside scoop as to what listeners can expect from it?
I think expect the unexpected, because this is the part where you get to see the soft side, before I come out and totally liberate everyone and gun the world down on some fuck everything vibe, [Full Moon] this is the one where you get a bit of info on how I got there.
7. Who would you want to play you in a Moonchild Sanelly biopic?
It’s so crazy, because I once did an audition, I went there and the director said you’re literally going to have to play you, you can’t play anyone else, you just must play yourself, I was like okay fine, great. From that experience, I feel like I have someone that could play me and that would be my daughter, she stole my whole face, we could put her into performing arts and find her an acting coach, because she stole my whole face, so yes it would be my daughter.
8. What’s the perfect environment to listen to your leading track, ‘Scrambled Eggs’ in full?
During breakfast, it’s crucial, it’s like brushing your teeth, it’s like okay the day is starting dum dum dum dum dum [Moonchild hums Scrambled Eggs] and you’re making your scrambled eggs. Wherever you are and you are getting ready for the day it helps you ready your day.
9. What can we expect from your upcoming tour?
Expect the freedom demon to come of out you without knowing with you, because it doesn’t come with a warning as long as you’re in front me and you get to feel the rays of the moon.
10. What’s next for you? What are you excited for in 2025?
I’m excited for the bigger stages, the bigger audiences, the new album, the audience singing along to every song they connect to. I’m also excited about 2025 because I know I’ll be able to share new music videos, I’m excited to just make the message bigger and liberate way more people to help shake society some more, it’ll be an earthquake by the time I’m done.
Photography courtesy of Moonchild Sanelly.
